Nigerian Citizens Demand Electoral Reforms at National Assembly Protest

Nigerian citizens, led by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, staged a protest at the National Assembly on February 9, 2026, demanding urgent electoral reforms. They specifically called for the adoption of real-time electronic transmission of election results directly by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and critical amendments to strengthen Nigeria's democratic architecture.

The protest, which continued until February 10, 2026, underscored the public's frustration with the outdated and opaque electoral system, emphasizing the need for transparency and credibility in the electoral process. The protesters demanded the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, which had already been passed by the House of Representatives in December 2025.

The spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi, urged the protesters to allow the Senate to consider the bill, emphasizing the importance of electoral reforms in restoring public trust in the electoral system. The protest highlighted the growing public impatience with the electoral process and the need for comprehensive reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.